Proprioceptive vs plyometric training : what is more beneficial?

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify whether specific components of a neuromuscular injury-prevention programme had any significant effects on the performance indices of healthy handball athletes. Method: 30 subjects were randomly assigned to either the plyometric (PLYO; n=10, age = 23 ±2.7), proprioceptive (BAL; n = 11, age = 25 ±3.9), or control group (CON; n = 9, age = 26 ±4.0). The CON maintained their usual handball training pre-season schedule, whereas, both the PLYO and BAL added a series of predetermined exercises in combination to their training regimen triweekly. Testing took place before and after the 6-week intervention and included assessing cardiovascular endurance (CE); vertical jump height with both legs (VJHX), and with either leg (left = VJHL; right = VJHR); and stability with both legs (STABX), and with either leg (left = STABL; right = STABR). Results: Significant improvements in VJHX were present in both PLYO and BAL groups, (p= 0.00 and p= 0.06; respectively), and VJHL (p= 0.000 and p= 0.09; respectively). However, only PLYO increased VJHR score (p= 0.000). STABX scores indicated significant improvements in BAL, particularly the males (p= 0.02). Both PLYO and BAL achieved significant scores in VJHR (p= 0.11 and p= 0.00; respectively), but only BAL increased VJHL scores (p= 0.00). Only PLYO had a significant effect on CE (p= 0.047). Conclusion: Overall, males exhibited better performance enhancements compared to their female counterparts. Injury prevention training proved to be a safe and feasible intervention to develop the aforementioned physical fitness parameters of amateur handball athletes.